Monday, October 5, 2009

My family has been involved in horse riding training for over 25 years and we thought it would be a great idea to share some of the knowledge we have built up. Also, as our 4 year old daughter is about to start her training we thought it would be great to share some of her experiences as she progresses.
I've put together my Top 5 Tips for you to follow before getting started in your horse riding training.
1. An important factor when you start your horse riding training is making sure that you take your time to find a good reputable training school using good training methods. The reason why this is important is because it's easy to pick up bad habits. If you don't take your time in finding the right training, then you run the risk of developing bad habits which are difficult to correct later. So do your homework, speak to friends who already ride, visit a few in your area and if possible watch some of the lessons to get a feel for the school or center as the feel can be just as important as the content of the lesson.
2. Another important consideration is what equipment you buy. It's critical that you buy good quality equipment because you want it to last and be safe, horse riding can be harsh on equipment and riders especially when riding cross country. Also, if you like the idea of entering horse showing events you will want to look your be stand buying the right horse riding clothing can help. If you make sure that you buy good quality equipment, then you'll be fine.
3. You don't have to spend vast amounts of money in order to start training. All you need to do is read up as much as you can, knowledge can go a long way to building confidence when getting on to a horse for the first time.
4. Instead of complicating training efforts by buying a horse and equipment straight away, try it this way: contacting your preferred training school and part renting a horse, then as you improve your horse riding ability and you are sure it is the right hobby for you, then buy your own. In fact, if you contact your local stables, then you may find that there are horses available to rent and look after as if they were your own.
5. Have you considered sharing a horse with a friend. It's not as difficult as you might think, and can help to spread the costs of looking after your own horse.
So if you really want to start horse riding training, following these tips can help make your experience a fun, safe and enjoyable one and one that you will want to continue for life.

Andy Day and his family have over 25 years experience in keeping horses and horse riding training. Together they share their experiences and knowledge to help you get started and have fun in your horse riding.
More information: http://www.horseridingtraining.net.